Un Official Hails Deal On Darfur Force
Guardian Unlimited, UK - June 13, 2007
The U.N. peacekeeping chief on Wednesday called Sudan's acceptance of a joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force for Darfur "a significant step forward," although he cautioned "it's not the end of the road."
A Sudanese diplomat in Ethiopia confirmed on Wednesday that Sudan has accepted the mission after receiving assurances Tuesday that a "hybrid" AU-U.N. force of between 17,000 and 19,000 troops will not be open-ended and Sudan will remain in control of its borders.
Akuei Bona Malwal, the deputy head of mission for Sudan in Ethiopia, said the joint force could be in Darfur by October, depending on how quickly the two organizations are able to mobilize the troops and secure funding.
"What we certainly have today is agreement of the government of Sudan on the hybrid mission and that is something significant," Undersecretary-General John-Marie Guehenno told reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council ...